This last weekend of January, the sport is in full swing in Kelowna, with 17 total games over the next two days.
Here’s a weekend preview and update for all Kelowna sports teams in the season:
Kelowna Missiles (WHL)
It’s been a busy week for the Kelowna Rockets as they have already beaten the Victoria Royals 4-3 twice in consecutive nights (Tuesday and Wednesday). This weekend is huge as they play a home-and-home game against the Vancouver Giants. Tonight’s game takes place at the Langley Events Center as the Rockets look to go for four straight wins. Puck drop is at 7:30pm
On Saturday, the two teams complete the home-and-home at the Prospera Center. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m
As today’s game begins, the Rockets sit second in the BC Division with a 20-10-1-3 record (44 points). The Giants are fourth in the division with a 16-18-2-0 record (34 points). Kelowna has struggled against Vancouver this season as they are 1-3-1-0 and were surpassed 24-15.
Milestone Clock: Minnesota Wild prospect and Rockets leading scorer Pavel Novak is one assist away from 100 in his WHL career.
All Rockets games can be viewed or heard on WHL Live on CHL TV at watch.CHL.ca at 3:50 p.m.
UBCO heat
Tonight (January 28), UBCO Athletics and Recreation is hosting its first Pride night during the UBCO Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Games. They welcome the WolfPack from Thompson Rivers University to The Furnace (UBCO High School). The women play at 6 p.m., followed by the men at 8 p.m
Funds will be raised during Friday’s games to support Etcetera, a local 2SLGBTQIA+ youth group. Its mission is to bring queer youth together in an intersectional, dynamic and supportive space. UBCO’s Office of Justice and Inclusion will have a booth to distribute stickers, pronoun pins and information on how to get involved in the various pride-related activities on campus.
Saturday game times are 3:00 p.m. for women and 5:00 p.m. for men.
Before the weekend, the men’s games are important not only for the standings, but also for the President’s Cup. The President’s Cup is a competition between UBCO and TRU in which the university with the best record in multiple sports (volleyball, basketball and soccer) goes home. TRU is 4-2-1 and a win on Friday night will win the cup. The UBCO men can win the trophy if they defeat TRU this weekend as the tiebreaker goes in their favor. Overall, the men sit 4-4 in third place this season in the USPORTS West standings.
The UBCO women have already won the President’s Cup. They are 5-1 overall this season, sharing first place in the USPORTS West Division with Trinity Western. This weekend is their first action since the first weekend of December.
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Volleyball isn’t the only heat sport in action as the Langley men’s and women’s basketball teams take on the Trinity Western Spartans. On Friday evening the women play at 6 p.m. and the men at 8 p.m. On Saturday, the games will take place at 3:00 p.m. for women and 5:00 p.m. for men.
The women are 6-7 on the season. Trinity Western is a tough one as they lead the West with a 10-2 record. The men want to get back in the win column as they are in year 1-9.
OC coyotes
The Coyotes men’s and women’s basketball teams also hit the court this weekend. They welcome the Vancouver Island University Mariners to town. The women play tonight (Friday) at 18:00 while the men start at 20:00. It’s an afternoon thing on Saturday as the women play at 12pm and the men play at 2pm. After a 0-2 start, the women have won four series and finished fifth in the CanWest standings. The men are 1-5 in the season and rank sixth in the CanWest standings. Both the men’s and women’s VIU teams are 10-0 this season.
West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL)
After defeating Wenatchee and losing to Cranbrook last week, the West Kelowna Warriors welcome the Trail Smoke Eaters to town on Saturday night (January 29). Puck drop is at 7pm at Royal LePage Place. West Kelowna ranks fourth in the interior standings with a 21-13-0-0 record. Trail is 15-14-1-1, sixth inside.
Kelowna Chiefs (KIJHL)
The Chiefs are playing a home-and-home game with Summerland Steam. Kelowna hosts Friday night’s game at the Kelowna-Rutland Arena with puck drop at 7:00 p.m. Saturday’s puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Summerland Arena. Kelowna (19-11-2-0) and Summerland (17-11-1-1) are second and third in the Bill Ohlhausen division.
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jordy.cunningham@kelowacapnews.ca
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